Man in stable condition after shot in chest outside party, police say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man is in stable condition after getting shot in the chest at an apartment complex Sunday morning in east Charlotte, police said.

Police said the shooting happened about 7 a.m. outside of a party after a possible robbery at the Heatherwood Traces Apartments on Paces Glen Avenue near Albemarle Road. The victim, who police said is about 25 years old, knew the shooter.

Neighbors woke up to police tape and officers swarming the complex.

“What's going on? I was shocked,” Kim Barnes said.

Just got update from police - victim in stable condition @wsoctv https://t.co/lHyvXeXv4Z
— Elsa Gillis (@ElsaWSOC9) July 16, 2017

A witness told Channel 9 off camera that the man noticed he was missing his wallet and went to confront the suspect outside, and was then shot.

"To hear this, it's ridiculous cause we were just here last night and to come this morning to hear this and to see you guys, I’m like kinda freaked out,” Stephanie Smothers said.

Neighbors described the area as quiet and safe.

"We come out here to play, work out, swim in the pool, and I’ve never heard any altercations involved where a shooting would take place,” Smothers said.

Channel 9 created a crime map for the complex. Since January, there have been seven reported crimes, all of them nonviolent.

“It's upsetting that we're getting to a point where every day you turn on the news and stuff, somebody's being killed, shot over nonsense,” Smothers said. “We need a lot more love than hate in the world. Yeah, it’s very disheartening.”